Baileys Blog

Plus 4 and dry when driving in..

Tom Bellamy and Johnny Burke were in to ride out. Johnny for 2 lots and Tom for one before heading to Haydock..

Tom who overdid it with the persuader on Percy Veering at Market Rasen heads to Spain on 11/12/2024  through to 17/12/2024.. Tut tut! But bloody annoying for all as he misses Cheltenham next weekend.

Graig and Bevereley Grange called in third lot to see their KBRS horse Reallynthruthfully.

We wish racing cartoonist Darren Birdie well after his serious health scare..

Talking scares.. Rupert Bell's article in the Racing Post is a sharp warning that the Budget could have shocking consequences for many training because of the changes to National Insurance and the National Living wage..My original estimate has doubled to over 30K...

Christmas Carols.. Always a good sing song.. And for Charity...Grapevine would love you to come to their carol service in Cheltenham, supporting three great charities. Great Western Air Ambulance, Hope and Homes for Children and Alzheimer’s Research U.K.

A great line-up of readers, including Rory Bremner, Phil Vickery, Keith Allen and Tom McEwen.

We have three runners at Ludlow where Mat heads to saddle Land Afar, Brendas Asking and Phantom Getaway while I head to Haydock to saddle Heros De Romay.. For our thought please click here.

Guy Faber suggested a boring clean joke..

A chap walks past a pet-shop and sees a sign in the window saying 'Talking centipede for sale - £50.' 

He thinks to himself I'll just have to have that - so he goes into the shop and says to the shopkeeper 'Does it really talk or are you just winding people up?' 

'Yes it talks' says the shopkeeper 'In fact you can have your money back if it doesn't.' 

So the chap parts with £50 and off he goes with the centipede. 

When he gets outside he says to the centipede 'Would you like to go for a walk in the park?'  No reply.  So he asks again.  No reply.  So he shouts very loudly 'WOULD YOU LIKE TO GO FOR A WALK IN THE PARK!?' 

To which the centipede says 'There's no need to shout, I heard you the first time - I'm just putting my shoes on.'

Plus 1 and dry when driving in.

Firstly .. Many congratulaions for Ed and Mary Cookson.. Mary had a little girl yesterday.. all 8lbs 3.. Matilda Violet Cookson.. and all are doing well, although not sure about Ed who has not made it is this morning..paternity leave?

Tuesday morning and we have our usual vet visit and this week’s movers and shakers in the BHA handicap charts were..

Bobhopeornohope down 4 to 121, Faerie Cutlass up 6 to 97, Gerard Mentor down 1 to 90, Mr Grey Sky down 3 to 117, Percy Veering up 3 to 101, The Edgar Wallace down 3 top 132 and finally Salt Rock enters at 109,

4 horses had an away day.. Amazing Cleni, Imperial Hurricane, Rallynthruthfully and Wild Goose

Mat having an away day too.. Looking at horses in Wales?

The current weather pattern have led to our horses having at least one clip more than normnal. It has not been an easy autumn as some nights are cold and some really too warm.. Duvets that go under the horses rugs often have to come off as it is too warm at nights.. The one thing you do not want is a seaty horse under its rugs.. thats when you get chills.. then like humans colds..

Another Ian Reid story..

I think, I'm going to lose my drivers license and all just because of a stupid police officer...The conversation went like this, when I got pulled over in my car:

Officer: "License and registration, please. I think you are drunk!"

Me: "I assure you, I did not drink anything."

Officer: "Ok, let's do a little test! Imagine driving in the dark on a highway at night, when you see two lights in the distance. What is this?"

Me: "A car."

Officer: "Of course! But which one? A Mercedes, an Audi or a Ford?"

Me: "I have no idea!"

Officer: "So, you're drunk."

Me: "But I didn't drink anything."

Officer: "Okay, one more test -- Imagine, you drive in the dark on a highway at night, and there is one light coming at you.What is it?

Me: "A motorcycle."

Officer: "Of course! But which one? A Honda, a Kawasaki or a Harley?"

Me: "I have no idea!"

Officer: "As I suspected, you're drunk!"

Then I started to get annoyed and asked a counter question.

Me: "So..., counter question -- You're driving in the dark on a highway at night and see a woman on the roadside. She wears a mini skirt, fishnet stockings, high heeled shoes and only a bra as a top. What is this?"

Officer: "A prostitute of course."

Me: "Yes, but which one? Your daughter, your wife or your mother?"

Things went downhill from there and now I have a court date to attend…

Plus 8 and dry when driving in. 9mm of rain over the weekend

That was a really good weekend.

Doncaster has been a very lucky racecourse for us and with a winner there on Friday with Moon Rocket we kicked off again on Saturday with Campaign Trail.

Campaign Trail was an expensive purchase off the flat last Autumn from Ralph Beckett.

Peter Kerr runs all my Syndicates..

Last year Peter put together a few like minded folk who were keen to buy a decent horse off the flat to go hurdling, and although I am sure Cheltenham was not on their mind we hoped that he just might make into a rather special 3/4 year old to tackle those races at the Cheltenham Festival (Triumph or Fred Winter) last March.

After CT returned from the Tattersalls Horses in Training sales in Newmarket last November he went up to Jason Maguire’s for a bit of R&R and a session or two of learning to jump..

That was successful and then CT arrived at Thorndale.. He schooled over hurdles a couple of times and then one morning his pulled up very sore behind.. he was bone scanned, and a hair line fracture of his pelvis was found..Season and dreams over..

I am a great believer in fate and time heals and thankfully his syndicate were brilliant and waited.. Saturday was a big day for all and their patience has been hugely rewarded.. Yes, it is early days, but he looked good at Doncaster.. The dream is still alive.

Well done to the It’s Only Money Syndicate. Who are Phil and Gill Andrews, Vince Burmingham, Hannah Caven, Nick and Shan Cook, Graham Cooper, Derek and Sian Eaton, Ken Gray, John and Pat Lee and Alan James

It was also a big weekend for bloodstock agent Ed Bailey..

This time last year I was looking to the future and was keen that with Mat coming onto my license that he involved himself with a younger bloodstock agent to help him..Hence Ed Bailey.. Campaign Trail was Ed's first buy and then Moon Rocket was his second..There have been a couple more since..

I have worked with Aiden Murphy for years and he and I have bought some lovely horses and of the current batch Chianti Classico, Destroytheevidence, Does He Know, Law Of Supply and The Kemble Brewery are examples..

The old guard is still here but there are times when the younger ones come through and it was on that note that John Perriss who had picked out Home Made Hero at Saturday's Goffs Coral Gold Cup Sale allowed Ed Bailey to have the horse knocked down to him...

John Perriss was over yesterday to see his new horse and say goodbye to I Got Stung (Tyson) who has been retired and rehomed... Home Made Hero will be heading to Jason Maguires for a bit of R&R before returning here for a spring campaign.

No runners yesterday so Mrs B and I joined Jonathan and Harriet Hicks for lunch..

England won the First Test against New Zealnd with plenty to spare..

Monday morning.

Tom Bellamy was in to jump Heros de Romay, The Kemble Brewery, Reallynthruthfully, Clondaw General, Imperial Hurricane, El Rio, Chianti Classico, Guchen, Broomfield Present, Phantom Getaway, Guerlain De Vaux and Seatoit.

Heather from the Northern Racing College was here with a riding simulator and all the team had a session late morning.

True nostalgia..for a Monday morning!

Plus 12 and dry when driving in..

A brilliant debut for Moon Rocket..This very likable 4-year-old gelding who was an Irish winning pointer was always handy, and the race was gifted to us when the favourite fell 2 from home.. MR was upsides at the time, so who knows.. Youneverknow is certainly an apt name for the Syndicate?

Well done to his very happy bunch of owners..The Peter Kerr managed KBRS Youneverknow Syndicate who are..John and Mandy Battershall, Nick and Shan Cook, Herbert Cox, Kevan Howard, Alan James, John And Pat Lee, Graham Lloyd Ton Palmer and Charlotte Foley, Paul Martin, David Robinson David  Shuttle and Colin Stewart..

Moon Rocket winning at Doncaster yesterday was a first for bloodstock Ed Bailey.. Ed bought MR at The Cheltenham Tattersalls sales in April..

We were buying on spec, and it was the first winner that Ed has bought us..Thankfully Peter sorted a syndicate for him..

Bobhopeornohope ran a better race to finish 4th. Still struggling with his breathing but confidence is growing and if the handicapper drops him again, we might find a race for him to go out on a winning note…

John and Penny Perriss bumped into one of my original (Marek Kwiatkowski run) Racing Club KCB syndicate members from my Lambourn days.. Jeremy Lovegrove.. 30 years ago?? Penny was a big help to him all those years ago and he has never forgotten..

I was not at Doncaster as I was on a farm walk around Batsford with Michael and Mary Dulverton..Stunning..

Mrs B, Archie and I went out to celebrate at Nagomi..

Cricket.. Day 3..Cracking day for England and the game looks inthe bag!!

Thank you to Norman and Zoe Carter for our first Christmas Card..

Saturday morning..

No Tom Bellamy and no Mat as both stayed last night in Doncaster.. Assume they both went to bed early?

Shaun Mathews and Olivia Shotliff were here for a morning on the gallops and breakfast as booked through CD Tours.

They were joined by Brian Evans, Alissa Ballinger, Frank Southall and Jeannette Bradbury who bought a morning here at a Charity auction..

We have one runner today at Doncaster, Campaign Trail runs there and for our thoughts please click here.

I am not racing today but I am heading to Newbury to see the horses that sell after racing..This is the Goffs sale that I bought one of our Cheltenham Festival winners Darna at..

We have no runners tomorrow.

I love B&W photos and I don't know whether you can see these stunning racing pictures...they might be behind a firewall..

My wife thinks I'm useless at repairing electrical appliances.

Well, she's in for a shock....

Anyway having repaired..have a great weekend and we will see you again in December!

Plus 4 and dry when driving in.

A go ahead racecourse.. Yes, that's Taunton. Nothing flashy but there is always good supportive and knowledgeable crowd.

Good to see Richard and Sheila Mordan racing at Taunton they are usually there and yesterday they were also supporting our runner.

Our runner Gerard Mentor probably enjoyed his day out, but ground on the soft side for a horse who wants good or fatser and the trip too far as a result. He ran well for 90% of the journey and will now have a winter break in preparation for another eventful summer racing campaign.

Cricket.. Day 2.. England were lucky but Harry Brook rode it leaving England 29 runs behind.

Scams.. We all read about them but yesterday Vodafone tried one on me.

I have been having trouble with my phone and it turned out that I had a corrupted sim card which I had replaced on Monday and now the phone seems to be working OK.

Anyway, yesterday Vodafone rang to suggest that I upgrade my iPhone 15 to an iPhone 16 for half the price I am currently paying for my monthly contract.. Tempted yes..

Not that trusting I asked them to confirm by email..It arrived and looked the part.. I even ran back their number 0246148487 and it was Vodafone... although not today!

We then went through all the usual hoops of reading the contract and then they asked for a credit card for the first month’s payment.. Now I know only too well that Vodafone never do that, so I told them to take a running jump.. So be warned..It was not Vodafone..

Secondly.. We have had several people apply for the tractor/yardman job. They send over their CV and then when you try and contact them, they never answer their phone and even if you leave messages they don’t get back in touch. Likewise when you reply to their email.. Now I have found out that when they go to apply for unemployment benefits, they can prove them have tried to get a job!

Mat heads to Doncaster and stays overnight for our runner there on Saturday

We have two runners today At Doncaster. Moon Rocket and Bobhopeornohope..For our thoughts please click here.

For light relief..You cannot beat the Two Ronnies..

Minus 3 and dry when driving in.

That was just so annoying.. Poor Percy!

Percy Veering might not be the best, but if all horses tried as hard as he does then my life would be so much easier.

Yesterday he was always handy and went 3 lengths clear turning for home, but he made a mistake at the third last. Still there at the last he battled his way to the line and went down fighting by half a length. He gave a well handicapped horse 8lbs..

Second .. Hate it, and now poor Percy will be penalised for that good run and probably go up to a rating of over 100 and then into another band of racing.. Annoying, but so proud of him..I own half of him!

Tom Bellamy also was not happy either.. his counting went astray in the excitement and on Tuesday, Tom might find out that he will be going to Spain for a few days!

Cricket..England are fielding in the First Test against New Zealand who are 319 for 8 at the Hagley Oval.. Oliver Sherwood watching and passing on updates all night!

Shock result. but..Michael Nolan won his appeal.. Something that I forgot to mention..Last months Cesarewitch winner Alphonse Le Grande was resinstated..

Ashley from Willis Bros was here stuffing our fences and rebuilding them... Expensive stuff birch

We have one runner today at Taunton. Gerard Mentor heads there for a race I would love to win as it is in the memory of two great local men in Mike Trickey And Geoff White.. for our thoughts on his chances please click here..

John Disney sent this one over..

Snow White, Superman and Pinocchio are out for a stroll in town one day.

As they walk, they come across a sign: "Beauty contest for the most beautiful woman in the world."

"I'm entering" says Snow White.

After half an hour she comes out and they ask her, "Well, how did you do?"

"First Place," says Snow White.

They continue walking and they see a sign: "Contest for the strongest man in the world."

"I'm entering," says Superman.

After half an hour he returns and they ask him, "How did you make out?"

"First Place," answers Superman. "Did you ever doubt?"

They continue walking when they see a sign: "Contest! Who is the greatest liar in the world?"

Pinocchio says "this is mine"

Half an hour later, he returns with tears in his eyes.

"What happened?" they ask.

"Who the hell is Rachel Reeves asks Pinocchio

Unbridled..Matt Chapman

Plus 3, windy and raining when driving in. 8mm overnight.. Selective watering on the chase track at Doncaster for this weekends meeting!

Mat and I did an ITV podcast last night with Jane Mangan, Richard Holies and Andrew Thornton co-presenting.. Recording I assume..

Tom Bellamy was in to ride out.

Kate Elliot was here third lot to see her KBRS horse So You Know.

Mrs B and I had a meeting yesterday with Fiona Burke, General Manager at Beaumont House..

We are keen to help each other and as we have so many people coming here for Breakfast and mornings on the gallops, either booked direct or through CD Tours that we thought Fiona’s Beaumont House was a good stopping over point for those who wish to be closer to Cheltenham than The Frogmill..

Anyway, if any of you fancy trying The Beaumont out just get in touch with them directly as they promise a decent discount below what is advertised on their web site, if you mention that you are coming here.. Mrs B said they were unbelievably comfy rooms…

I thought about going Christmas shopping as I was in Cheltenham.. After thinking I gave up and went back to Thorndale!

But..If you are looking for Christmas gift than look no further…Inkerman (supply most of our racecourse winners trophies) are working with a local artist called Abbie Hart;  Abbie used to work in racing and still is an avid racing follower and now a well-known horse and dog artist. 

Inkerman have commissioned her to draw an exclusive Racing Collection set of drawings which they are selling as prints, mats, coasters and cards and they were well received at their stand in the Shopping Village at Cheltenham.  The perfect gift for any racing fanatics! She also does private commissions through Inkerman as well.

Also talking Christmas..

For all the years Mat has been with me I have said never buy cheap footware as you soon realise you get what you pay for.... Wellington boots..

Mat refuses to spend the money on a pair Le Chameau .. Firstly because everybody wears them and secondly they are expensive.. Anyway he proudly bought a imitation pair for well under half the price.... Sadly after a month they leak and every morning he is seen putting plastic bags on his feet before putting them on.. Size 10 if you fancy buying Mat a pair for Christmas!!

We have one runner today at Market Rasen. Percy Veering heads there and for our thoughts please click here.

Ian Reid is back...

A 90-year-old man goes for a physical and all of his tests come back normal.

The doctor says, “Larry, everything looks great. How are you doing mentally and emotionally? Are you at peace with God?”

Larry replies, “God and I are tight. He knows I have poor eyesight, so He’s fixed it so when I get up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom, poof! The light goes on. When I’m done, poof! The light goes off.”

“Wow, that’s incredible,” the doctor says.

A little later in the day, the concerned doctor calls Larry’s wife.

“Bonnie,” he says, “Larry is doing fine! But I had to call you because I’m in awe of his relationship with God. Is it true that he gets up during the night, and poof, the light goes on in the bathroom, and when he’s done, poof, the light goes off?”

“Oh sweet Jesus”, exclaims Bonnie. “He’s pissing in the 'fridge again!

Plus 4 and dry when driving in.

You cannot beat breeding your own winner..Ask Elizabeth Kellar..

Elizabeth’s homebred mare Faerie Cutlass won at Ludlow yesterday under a great ride from Johnny Burke..

Mrs K’s chest was bursting with pride after the race..Quiet right too as she, along with all breeders will tell you it is not a ‘career or passion’ for the feint heated..But a winner is worth everything and all the hardships that go with it..

It has been a traumatic summer for horse and owner. FC has been incredibly consistent and deserved yesterday’s win.. .. The traumatic side was when she fell with Lauren Hawkins at Worcester… And on that note it was really good to see Lauren up here at Thorndale on Saturday.. Lauren's progress is all going in the right direction.

FC winning was our last runner of the day, and it was an informative day too..

Mr Grey Sky was run off his feet. 10 years old and he would want far softer ground now in older age.

At Kempton. Salt Rock was 3rd.. good.. and now qualifies for a handicap mark so he will now go chasing.

Shantou Express turned into the straight all over the winner but the tacky ground sorted him out poor chap,.. he finished a tired 4th.

4th was where The Edgar Wallace finished and a perfectly respectable first run of the season for him.

Ludlow.. all the fields around in the area were flooded.. The Laws and Woodhall’s were at Ludlow to support as was Marek Kwiatkowski.. Such a funny man!! Now there is a man who has lived an interesting life.. No comment! His autobiography would take some publishing?

Cricket.. India thrash Australia..

Tuesday morning.

Tom Bellamy was in to ride out and we jumped a few. Ciaran Gethings, sporting a new haircut, was in to watch. He hopes to be back riding in late December... He had a fall at Southwell..

Alan James was here to see his KBRS horses along with Anthony and Lyn Archer

Mark Harris was also here with Rosie Macmillan Douglas.. Mark has shares in two horses that are currently with Martin Jones.

We had our usual vet visit and this weeks movers and shakers in the BHA handicap charts were Does He Know down 1 to 149, Law Of Supply up 7 to 120, The Kemble Brewery up 2 to 130 and Trelawne went up 8 to 152

No runners today

Here is a silly one to end the day on.

Plus 8 and dry when driving in. 65mm of rain since Saturday morning..

That was a cracking weekend..

Haydock on Saturday was everything that jump racing holds dear to me. Winter weather and soft ground specialist being able to show their stuff after an autumn of unseasonally dry conditions.

I met up with Martyn and Sandra Steer-Fowler and Anita Dymond at Tewkesbury to share a lift to Haydock.

Sandra was rightly pensive about the day ahead as 24 hours before we were not sure if Trelawne would be running as too often the weather forecast has been so wrong, but Storm Bert (probably named after our dog) was due to hit Haydock on Saturday morning.. Thankfully, it did as we arrived to see soft ground..

Trelawne looked absolutely magnificent in the paddock and Erika Creed, who looks after him, rightly won the best turned out prize..I am always proud of the way our horses are turned out at the races.. Thank you to Leigh Pollard who drives them and looks after them when racing.. Thorndale is a huge team effort led by Charly Bond and we are rightly proud of them all.

Anyway, nerves a jangle when Tom Bellamy appeared in the paddock full of confidence.. Confidence was what we were looking for and Trelawne needed that after his fall at Cheltenham and this graduation chase was what we were planning for when we had to miss the last one at Carlisle because of the fast ground.

The race went as planned.

Trelawne jumped with confidence and travelled well, always up there, and both Tom and Trelawne looked happy and content in each other’s company..

There was an oooh from the crowd when Tom sent Trelawne 4 lengths clear coming to the second last.. The favourite was creeping up and then Trelawne made his only mistake, at the last, and then it was battle royal to the line.. he held on by half a length..

I was ecstatic and was seem punching the air with delight!

Tom returned to a hero’s reception and when Oli Bell said to me that I was emotional on ITV.. I was, as this horse means so much to me and his fall at Cheltenham shook me and scared me and I was just so thrilled that he was, as they say, back on track… I just have so much respect for this horse’s ability and talent.. Why can’t I saw a bit of emotion when it all comes together.??

I was thrilled for Sandra and her team as Sandra bred this chap,  and frankly he is a bit of a freak of nature as his pedigree does not suggest that he would be a star chase on soft ground.. But.. Dreams from foal to now have been rewarded, as has Sandra’s patience..Don’t forget that she paid for 2 season training fees with me saying that he was not ready to run!!

Haydock were excellent with helping the post-race celebrations and them home..

Dinner out to celebrate and I rang Jay Rahman from Prithvi to see if he could fit 5 extra in for dinner.. Oh no he said.. far too popular.. so he suggested his new restaurant Circo..

We had an excellent evening, but on the way home I saw I had a missed call from Mat.. Text followed to say that he had sent Trelawne into the vets as he was lame..He had a cut on his shin, which we knew about, which was looked at by vets post-race.. Anyway, he was sore enough to worry and thankfully he is far better now and will be home later.. he will be fine, but like you a cut can be very sore.. Better to be safe than sorry..

Sunday turned out to be an unexpected day at home as Exeter was called off after the roof tiles fell off.. Ground raceable, but health and safety took over..

Monday morning.

We have 5 runners today.

Mat heads to Kempton to saddle Salt Rock, The Edgar Wallace and Shantou Express..

I head to Ludlow to saddle Mr Grey Sky and Faerie Cutlass.. For our thoughts, please click here.

A Cornish song..

Plus 5 and wet when driving in. 10mm overnight.. Storm Bert.. What will he produce today I wonder..

Law Of Supply produced a wonderful display of jumping at Ascot yesterday. This stunning grey was bought to go chasing and now he is two from two over fences and yesterday his win really was impressive for a novice. He jumped so surely and confidently and Johnny Burke have him a very sympathetic ride..

LOS was bought at last week’s Cheltenham Tattersalls sales two years ago for Andrew Lay.. Sadly, Andrew never saw him, but I do know he would have been thrilled with yesterday win..It was a great win for Jane who was there to receive a lovely trophy.. one for the Christmas table..

I hope that Island Bridge who Aiden Murphy and I bought there last week will be as good.. who knows.. it is that crystal ball?

Chepstow was not as soft as they said and although both Seatoit and English Willow ran well, both would have preferred softer ground..

Heros De Romay did not run because he had an abscess on his heel, but we would not have run him anyway because he loves soft ground.. we did not run Guerlain De Vaux for the same reason..

Saturday morning and Tom Bellamy was in to ride out before heading North to ride at Haydock.

Malcolm and Taryn Wright were here for a morning on the gallops and breakfast..An early Christmas present for Malcolm..

Will it be a big day or.. will it rain at Haydock so that we can run Trelawne. It has...

Anyway, we hope to run Trelawne there and we run Broomfield Present and Faerie Cutlass at Exeter tomorrow.. For our thoughts on their chances please click here.

Great racing on both side of the Irish Sea today..

Punchestown has loads of talent on show, but when you next moan about the lack of runners in a novice chase please remember to look at the 1.00pm race there tomorrow..  3 runners.. all owned and trained by the same people!.

Guy: Doctor, my Girlfriend is pregnant but we always use protection and the rubber never broke. How is it possible?

Doctor: Let me tell you a story: "There was once a Hunter who always carried a gun wherever he went.

One day he took out his Umbrella instead of his Gun and went out. A Lion suddenly jumped infront of him. In order to scare the Lion, the Hunter used the Umbrella like a Gun, and shot the Lion, then it died!

Guy: Nonsense! Someone else must have shot the Lion..

Doctor: Good! You understood the story. Next patient please.

On that note batten down the hatches and have a great weekend and see you on Monday..